AGRICULTURE

Farmers to be compensated for distress sales
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 18
Mr S.K. Sandhu, Deputy Commissioner, today said that the district administration had received an amount of Rs 6.60 crore to be disbursed as compensation among 14,490 farmers, whose paddy was sold below the minimum fixed price during kharif season 2000-2001. He said that the instructions had been issued to disburse of compensation within two weeks.

Giving details, he said that this amount was a part of the total amount of Rs 100 crore released by the state government as per its announcement to provide compensation to farmers. He said that in order to ensure proper distribution of compensation, sub-divisions level committees headed by SDM of respective sub-division were being formed to supervise the payment of compensation to the farmers. Chairman of the market committees would also be the members of these committees. Food and Supplies Officer or Assistant Food and Supplies Officers would be secretaries of these committees. The Deputy Commissioner said the DDPO of each block would function as the disbursing officer in the block. The committee would also include representatives of farmers and arhtiyas.

Mr Sandhu said that as per fixed norms, the farmers would be paid compensation at the rate of 62 per cent of the total loss suffered by them during the distress sale of their paddy. He said the compensation would be paid to individual farmers in the shape of crossed account payees cheques. The SDM would fix day and date for distribution of compensation in each mandi and the farmers would be informed in time to collect compensation. He said the compensation cheques would be distributed in the presence of the committee and the sarpanch or the nambardar would identify the farmers.

Mr Sandhu advised the farmers to bring their ‘J’ forms at the time of compensation collection and also to bring their photo identity cards, passports or driving licences etc at the time of disbursement of cheques.

EDUCATION

No clear guidelines in sight for BBA,
BCA & B.Com applicants
Deepkamal Kaur

Ludhiana, June 18
Students applying for admission to B.Com, BBA and BCA courses in city colleges affiliated with the Panjab University are a confused lot, due to incomplete information regarding the criteria for eligibility at Khalsa College for Women where centralised admissions for all the 12 city colleges are to be held.

The students, who had come to the college for procuring the admission forms said that no prospectus or brochure giving detailed information about the admission proceeding was being given at the counter. Just a single page form, asking for particulars, alongwith preference for three colleges was being given out for Rs 50, they said. With no guidelines for filling up forms and no eligibility criteria for admissions to the three courses mentioned anywhere, the students seeking admission seemed to have no one to go to for clarification.

The students were also confused about the total number of colleges offering the three courses. ‘‘I want to apply for admission to BBA but I do not sure whether there are two or more colleges offering the degree. I have been trying to seek this information from several other candidates in the college. While some said that that there were two colleges, others said that there were three and still others informed that there were four city colleges offering BBA with the Panjab University. What really disturbed me is that even the clerks at the counter could not reply with much certainty,’’ said Manmeet Kaur, an applicant.

Ravi Bajaj, another applicant, said that he had secured 54 per cent marks in Class XII (Arts), but he was not sure whether he would be eligible for admission to BCA. ‘‘I have purchased the form, but I am still not sure whether I would be eligible for admission to the course. It is quite likely that the university demands a minimum percentage of 55 or 60 per cent. In that case, my money as well as time will go waste and I will have to look for other alternatives,’’ he said.

Another group of girl students said that since they were not given any information regarding the certificates to be attached with the form, there was a chance of missing out attaching a certificate. This could probably also lead to rejection of their application forms, said the students. They said that when they decided to approach the principal, Ms Harinder Dhillon, they came to know that she would be out of station till evening.

Deepak Kalsi, applying for B.Com, said that his cousin at Chandigarh, who was seeking admission for the same course, got a 8-page brochure alongwith admission form MCM DAV College, the UT centre, which clearly specified the eligibility criteria, names of men, women and co-ed colleges offering all the three courses, number of seats for each course at a college, number of reserved seats, list of certificates to be attached with the form and even the date of display of merit list, but no such brochure was being given at the Ludhiana local centre.

He further added, ‘‘Admissions had been centralised with an aim to ensure transparency but if such no printed specifications are supplied and such anomalies prevail even before admissions commence, there are chances of mismanagement at later stages.’’

Students get personality development tips
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 18
A 15-day workshop on personality development organised for the students of BCM Arya Model Senior Secondary School, Shastri Nagar, concluded here today.

During the workshop, the students were taught about ways to enhance their communication skills, build vocabulary and improve their pronunciation. Lessons on various aspects of personality development were also delivered to them in a play-way manner, said Ms Shilpi Gupta, convener of the workshop.

Mr Satyanand Munjal of the school management, chief guest on the occasion, gave certificates to the students. Ms Paramjit Kaur, Principal, said that the students had shown keen interest in various modules of the workshop.

CULTURE

Shaheed Baba Bhan Singh Sunet remembered
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, June 18
The Maha Sabha, Ludhiana, yesterday organised a cultural and drama festival at Government High School Sunet in honour of Baba Bhan Singh Sunet. A grand cultural show was presented, which was highly appreciated. The cultural programme lasted till 1 p.m. and the programme started with different social organisations which were fighting for justice, offering their tributes to the martyr Bhan Singh. Col. J.S. Brar, president; Chairman Darshan Singh Gill of Maha Sabha (regd) and Giani Bhaktawar Singh of Bhai Ghanaiya Social Welfare Organisation were present on the occasion. Ranjit Singh Kannu, a member of Bhan Singh’s family was present on the occasion. Gursharn Singh, a budding playwright motivated the audience with his play. ‘Butt Jaag Piya’ and ‘Raaj Maharaja Ranjit Singh Da’, a satire on the politicians which the audience enjoyed immensely. The roles were played by Lalli, Bashir, Amrit, Suleman and the audience lauded their performances.

Gursharan Singh paid rich tributes to martyrs and said that the corrupt politicians could not take the country forward and hence even after 54 years of independence, the problems of the downtrodden had remained the same. The freedom fighters had visualised a country where each citizen would have equal social rights. But sadly enough, nothing of that sort had been achieved.

People would have to mobilise themselves and fight their own battle and this would be the real tribute to martyrs. Lok Kala Manch (Mullanpur) presented two choreographies. ‘Mein Dharti Punjab Di’ and ‘Shaheed Udham Singh’, directed by Master Rakesh Chaudhry. Rupinder in the first choreography played the title role of Mother Earth extremely well. Master Surinder Sharma breathed life into the role of Udham Singh and won great applause.